Thomas lewis banks



No. 608,098. Patented July 26, I898.

. T. L. BANKS.

CONSTRUCTION OF FIREPBOOF FLOORS.

(Application filed Dec. 24, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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llnrrnn THOMAS LElVIS BANKS,

FFICE.

OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

CONSTRUCTION OF FIREPROOF FLOORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,098, dated July 26,1898. Application filed December 24,1897. fierial No- 663,333. (Nomodel.) Patented in England March 17, 1894,1l0. 5,626.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS LEwIs BANKS, F. R. I. B. A., a citizen ofEngland, residing at Lindores, Kew Gardens, London, in the county ofSurrey, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in theConstruction of Fireproof Floors, (for which I have obtained LettersPatent in Great Britain, dated March 17, 1894, No. 5,626,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

Fireproof floors are at present in some instances made by suspending aremovable centering from the metal floor or ceiling joists and after theconcrete or brick arch laid upon such centering has set removing thelatter for further use. According to my present invention I employ insuch an arrangement metal supports for the removable centering, whichsupports are suspended from the metal joists and which after the removalof the centering on the setting of the concrete filling or brick archare made to constitute the supports for a ceiling, so that when this isformed there exists between its upper surfaceand the concrete filling aninclosed space that serves for ventilation. For this purpose I fix ironsuspenders to the top or lower flanges of the iron or steel joists, andto these suspenders I attach at a suitable distance below the joistsiron or steel bars of any section,eX- tending from joist to joist andserving both for supporting the centering for the concrete, c. andafterward for supporting the ceiling. These ceilingbars may be attachedto the suspenders either by bolts or pins, or the suspenders may be madeof a hook shape or with slots for the bars to rest in the hooks orslots. Upon these bars I then place the centering, which may either beof wood or sheet-iron or corrugated iron orof wood framing covered withsheet-iron, the upper surface of the centering being either arched orflat. The concrete lillin g or brick arch is then formed, and

after it has set the ceiling-bars are detached from the suspenders andthe centering is removed for further use. The ceiling-bars are thenagain fixed in position and have the ceiling attached to them in anysuitable manner. Figure l of the accompanying drawings shows a sectionof one arrangement of fireproof floor constructed according to myabovedescribed invention. The girders or joists A have wrought iron orsteel loop-shaped straps B hung over their upper flange, and to thelower ends of these straps are removably' attached bars 0. Upon thesebars are laid lon-V The bars 0 are then raised again and secured andserve for supporting the ceiling, which may be constructed in anysuitable manner, but preferably as described in the specification to'myBritish Patent No. 12,227 of 1893-- namely, eyes 11 are hooked onto thebars,

. through which eyes rods are passed for carrying the metallic lathingthat supports the plaster of the ceiling.

When the distance between the joists A exceeds from two feet six inchesto three feet, I prefer to support the bar 0 at one or more intermediatepoints by suspending straps or rods which pass up through the centeringand are embedded in the concrete, the upper ends being either bent orotherwise afforded effective hold on the concrete, as indicated at I; orin this case the arched sheet metal F, which may be corrugated andsupported on the flanges of the joists A, may be allowed to remain andthe upper ends of the said intermediate suspenders be attached in anysuitable manner to such arched sheet metal, as shown in Fig. 3, wherethe arched sheet metal F is carried on the flanges of the joists A andthe suspenders I pass with their threaded upper ends through the sheetmetal F, above which they are fitted with washers I and screw-nuts 1Fig. 2 shows another modification in which the removable centers areformed fiat instead of arched, being either made entirely of wood, asshown, or of wood supports at distances apart, covered with sheet metal.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and the best means Iknow for carrying the same into practical effect, I claim- 1. In theconstruction of fireproof floors with removable centering, metal barsfor supporting such centering suspended from the joists in a detachablemanner, which bars are adapted to be refixed after the removal of thecentering and serve as the supports for the ceiling, substantially asdescribed.

2. In combination with the detachable ceiling-bars intermediatesuspension straps or rods having their upper ends secured either to theconcrete filling of the floor or to arched sheet metal carried by thejoists, substantially as described.

3. In the construction of fireproof floors with removable centering, thecombination with the supporting-joists A of the metal strips B supportedby said joists and having their lower ends depending below the latterand metal bars 0 detachably connected to the lower ends of the strips,said bars serving as supports for the centering during the constructionof the floor, and as supports for the ceiling after the centering hasbeen removed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 14th day of December, A. D.1897.

THOMAS LEWIS BANKS.

Witnesses:

JNo. P. M. MILLARD, W. M. HARRIS.

